After a long wait, here is the eve of the start of the play offs for Taranto Ezio Capuano. Tomorrow evening at 8.30 pm the Ionian team will face Mr. Fontana’s Latina who will therefore be the first obstacle towards the Serie B dream. In the press conference the rossoblù coach analyzes tomorrow evening’s match. Here are his statements:
About tomorrow’s match: ”It will be fascinating to start this new journey in the play offs. We begin this new journey against Latina who is an excellent and well-trained team. However, it should be noted that we are playing against a team that has nineteen points less and perhaps due to an unlucky episode we risk going out. The ranking tells us that we are fifth but we cannot forget what we have done. On the field we came second, let’s not forget that. It will be a very difficult match and we must demonstrate that we are really strong as we demonstrated in the regular season. We will always be ourselves. We are not a team that waits and we want to propose our game. We have the utmost sense of responsibility. We met Latina on the last day so we know how to face this team”
On the return to the play offs with the new formula and with the warm audience: ”My greatest achievement was building this team with what we had available. We made a very diligent market without spending money. Plus we made significant capital gains. The best thing is having made this great championship. A true footballing miracle was achieved with an extraordinary group of players. It is a championship that will remain in the history of Taranto. Here we brought players from Taranto. And we certainly cannot forget everything that happened to us starting from the fire in the stadium on the first day. We have made many sacrifices to get to this. Tomorrow we will have another sold out. Everyone in town talks about us. We have brought enthusiasm back to this city as well as a sense of belonging. In my own small way I think I have made a small contribution to raising the name of the city of Taranto which is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy”
On some goals conceded by Taranto from the sidelines: ”All year I’ve been trying to block the attacking play on the outside but it’s also true that I prefer not to be attacked centrally but try to send the opponent’s play out to the outside to be better positioned defensively. It’s true that we conceded a few goals like this but it’s equally true that we never conceded more than two goals in a game. The numbers never lie. Therefore it means that we are a rational and attentive team. Reading the matches is important and I always try to enhance my ideas. Sometimes maybe you change the game system and you can change some phases”
On the emotions of the playoffs: ”I am moved more than excited. However, I live everything with extreme serenity. Of course we cannot forget that with four draws we could have gone to Serie B being second and instead we are forced to play from the start having to climb a mountain. Tomorrow we will play our match and try to go as high as possible. Evidently a mistake was made and now we are here instead of taking over later in these play offs. I can certainly say that whatever happens it will be a success”
About the team: ”Everyone should be fine tomorrow. We must give our best for all the people who will come to the stadium. Having as many close matches as I hope, we must manage the group well and with great rationality. Now let’s think about Latina. It will take a lot of attention. All the players have grown this year and have made their contribution. We worked so hard for this. I have to thank all my collaborators for all this.”
